Earth-working machines

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an earth-working machine comprising a platform equipped with a driver&#39;&#39;s cabin which is fast therewith and is oriented in the direction of translation of the machine, and with an operating equipment mounted to pivot, with respect to the driver&#39;&#39;s cabin, about a substantially vertical axis, said operating equipment being able to pivot at least substantially through 90*, while the axis of rotation is disposed to the side of the driver&#39;&#39;s cabin, wherein said driver&#39;&#39;s cabin is disposed at the front of the platform, while rotation locking means may render integral the operating equipment and the driver&#39;&#39;s cabin for two positions of the operating equipment moved from one to the other by a pivoting through at least 90*.

United States Patent Gauchet 51 May 23, 1972 [54] EAR'IH.WORKINGMACHINES 971,028 9/1964 Great Britain ..2l4/ l 38 1,807,981 11/1967Germany ..214/132 [72] Inventor: Yves M. Gauchet, Senlis, France PrimaryExaminer-Robert G. Sheridan l [73] Asslgnee ig fiz ig gg f Le P esslsBel Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney-Mason, Fenwick &Lawrence [22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1969 Appl. No.: 881,405

[ ABSTRACT This invention relates to an earth-working machine comprisinga platform equipped with a drivers cabin which is fast therewith and isoriented in the direction of translation of the machine, and with anoperating equipment mounted to pivot, with respect to the drivers cabin,about a substantially vertical axis, said operating equipment being ableto pivot at least substantially through 90, while the axis of rotationis disposed to the side of the drivers cabin, wherein said drivers cabinis disposed at the front of the platform, while rotation locking meansmay render integral the operating equipment and the drivers cabin fortwo positions of the operating equipment moved from one to the other bya pivoting through at least 90.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EARTH-WORKING MACHINES In conventionalearth-working machines, the operating equipment is disposed on the axisof the machine, i.e. in front of the drivers cabin. This means poorvisibility, particularly when the machine is moving, whether at theworking places themselves or on roads when moving from one working placeto another.

In order to obviate these drawbacks, arrangements are generally providedwhich are impractical, complicated and not always very efficient.

For instance, a second drivers cabin is mounted on certain machines,which is mainly used during the movements of the machine. This isexpensive and obliges the driver to change cabins often, at least at theworking places.

It has also been thought to provide two driving positions in the onedrivers cabin, generally by pivoting the drivers seat through 180. Inthis case, although the controls with which a conventional machine isprovided have to be installed substantially in duplicate, the result isnot automatically satisfactory as regards improving the visibility,since the drivers cabin is still disposed in a position which is oftenbadly adapted to the maneuvers of the machine.

Finally, there is the solution of the partial or complete dismantling ofthe operating equipment. There is no need to emphasize the awkwardnessof this operation which, for this reason, is rarely carried out.

The invention intends to obviate this state of affairs and proposes tothis end an efficient and convenient arrangement by which the visibilityof the machines provided therewith is advantageously increased.

The invention therefore has for its object an earth-working machinecomprising a platform equipped with a drivers cabin, which is fasttherewith and is oriented in the direction of translation of themachine, and with an operating equipment mounted to pivot, with respectto the drivers cabin, about a substantially vertical axis, saidoperating equipment being able to pivot at least substantially through90, while the axis of rotation is disposed to the side of the driverscabin.

Said drivers cabin is disposed at the front of the platform, whilerotation locking means may render integral the operating equipment andthe drivers cabin for two positions of the operating equipment, movedfrom one to the other by a pivoting through at least 90.

The axis of rotation disposed to the side of the drivers cabin isadvantageously located slightly to the rear thereof.

The pivoting by which the two integrating positions of the operatingequipment of the drivers cabin are moved from one to the other, ispreferably substantially through 180.

Moreover, the rotation locking means are constituted by a device with aremovable spindle.

Finally, as the platform with which the drivers cabin is fast isconstituted by a turret pivoting about an axis on a chassis, the pivotalaxes of the turret and the operating equipment are substantially merged.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a machine on which is mounted anarrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view seen in the direction of arrow F of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine according to the invention isconstituted, in the embodiment chosen, by a chassis 1, equipped withrolling members, here with wheels 2. There is rotatably mounted on thechassis a platform 3 known as the turret, on which are disposed theoperating equipment 4 and the drivers cabin 5.

The drivers cabin 5 is fixedly mounted on the platform 3 and is orientedin the direction of displacement of the machine, when the platform 3 isitself oriented so that, from the drivers cabin, one looks towards thefront of the machine, as shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, it will easily beunderstood that the platform 3, on which is mounted the drivers cabin,is not necessarily constituted by a turret pivoting on the chassis lbut, as a variant, may perfectly well be fixedly mounted on said chassis1.

As for the operating equipment 4, it is mounted to rotate on theplatform 3 about a vertical axis 6 located to the side of the driverscabin 5, and preferably slightly to the rear of the said cabin. Theoperating equipment 4 is in fact articulated on a support 7 by a shaft8, which support 7 is mounted to rotate on the platform 3. A hydraulicram 9, whose body is fast with the support 7, may be controlled from thedriver's cabin, whilst its rod 10 may penetrate into one of the housings11 or 12 provided for this purpose in the platform 3 and operates as aspindle. It will be specified that the housings 11 and 12 aresubstantially diametrically opposite with respect to the axis 6, and atequal distance therefrom. When the rod 10 of the hydraulic ram 9 isopposite one of the two housings 11 or 12, the plane in which theoperating equipment 4 may move, or the median plane, is substantiallyparallel to the direction in which the drivers cabin 5 is oriented. Itwill further be noted that the operating equipment 4 may occupy thisfirst position 4 and a position 4, shown in solid and broken linesrespectively in FIG. 1. A counterweight 13 is moreover arranged on theplatform 3 at the rear of said platform.

When moving, either at the working places or on the road, the abovedescribed machine has the advantage of making it possible, very rapidlyand without any dismantling to orientate the operating equipment whichin no way hinders visibility, without the driver continuously having tochange cabins.

When in operation at the working places, the operating equipment isgenerally disposed as shown at 4 in FIG. 1. It will be noted that, inthis position, the equipment 4 is located to the side of the driverscabin 5. The driver therefore has an unrestricted field of vision whichenables him to see clearly and without any special effort, where thetool which he is controlling is located.

For moving on roads or at working places, it is sufficient to orientatethe operating equipment so as to bring it into position 4 (FIG. 1), inorder that the driver than has the whole of this equipment behind himor, to be more precise, behind and to the side of him. Forwardvisibility is therefore completely unrestricted. However, what is atleast just as important as this improvement in the visibility is thefact that it is obtained simply, almost instantaneously. The rod 10 isdisengaged from the housing 11; the support 7, therefore the operatingequipment, is oriented by a means known per se (which for this reasonhas not been shown in the drawings); said operating equipment is broughtinto position 4, in which it is locked again by inserting the rod 10into the housing 12. As the maneuver is neither difficult nor long, itis carried out efficiently by the driver who does not hesitate, since itcauses no extra worry but provides on the contrary a new drivingpleasure.

A secondary advantage is that maneuvers may be carried out on the rearof the platform 3 with the operating equipment itself. Therefore, withthe operating equipment having been oriented previously towards therear, and disposed at 4', it is very easy to place a heavy element, suchas for example the counterweight 13, on the platform 3.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just beenshown, but covers on the contrary all the variants which could be madethereto without departing from the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An earth-working machine comprising, a mobile chassis, a platformpivotally mounted on the chassis for horizontal rotational movementthereon, a drivers cabin fixed to the platform and oriented in thedirection of mobility of the chassis, earth-working equipment pivotallymounted on the platform at one side of the drivers cabin for movementfrom a position projecting forwardly of the chassis in view from thedrivers cabin to a position removed therefrom through an angle of atleast wherein the pivotal connections of the platform to the chassis andthe earthworking equipment to the platform are coaxial, and means tolock the earth-working equipment in its extreme positions of pivotalrotation.

2' An earth-working machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the locationof the drivers cabin on the platform is forwardly of the coaxial pivotalconnections.

3. An earth-working machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein, theearth-working equipment in its forward locked 5 position is parallel andat one side of the drivers cabin, and in its other locked position is tothe rear of the machine 180 from its forward position.

1. An earth-working machine comprising, a mobile chassis, a platformpivotally mounted on the chassis for horizontal rotational movementthereon, a driver''s cabin fixed to the platform and oriented in thedirection of mobility of the chassis, earth-working equipment pivotallymounted on the platform at one side of the driver''s cabin for movementfrom a position projecting forwardly of the chassis in view from thedriver''s cabin to a position removed therefrom through an angle of atleast 90*, wherein the pivotal connections of the platform to thechassis and the earthworking equipment to the platform are coaxial, andmeans to lock the earth-working equipment in its extreme positions ofpivotal rotation.
 2. An earth-working machine as claimed in claim 1,wherein, the location of the driver''s cabin on the platform isforwardly of the coaxial pivotal connections.
 3. An earth-workingmachine as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the earth-working equipment inits forward locked position is parallel and at one side of the driver''scabin, and in its other locked position is to the rear of the machine180* from its forward position.